Thoughts on the DLS problems and the effects on the end user

[Paul_Bert]

Its now Wednesday September 5 and my Trainz program and all its routes are now just getting back to normal after the DLS issues from August 29 through September 2.

I experienced several days where most of my routes indicated missing assets, where it took 20 to30 minutes for a CM filter to bring up the data, up to 10 minutes for the Trainz program to launch into the route mode, saved changes to sessions corrupting the route/session, and other malfunctions.

On Sunday the 31st and Monday the 1st it was so bad I suspected my computer had either a virus or malware. I thought my SSD drive was going bad because it was so slow in loading and running Trainz. I was about to call my computer service company to verify that my system was OK.

My point is that I really find this unacceptable behavior on the part of a software program where it is so depended upon on one component (the DLS being connected to the server) so that when that when that one component malfunctions it brings the entire system to its knees.

I find it had to believe that N3V is so concerned that someone might "steal" a $30 program that they would put all their customers through the torture that many of us experienced over the past weekend.

There has to be a better way to check for those people who might be using illegally obtained software.

 

[Vern]

I find it had to believe that N3V is so concerned that someone might "steal" a $30 program that they would put all their customers through the torture that many of us experienced over the past weekend.

The irony being, the problem seems to have stemmed from giving another version of Trainz away for free...

 

[JCitron]

Well said, Paul.

I understand what they are trying to do, however, the implementation is incorrect IMHO. Instead of doing a global check on DLC because it was included in the package, they should check the base item only and exclude common items which are also available on the DLS. These common items are bogies, scenery items, and other stuff which has been used for a decade or more now. Just because someone making the DLC asset used a common item, this doesn't mean this item has to be included too, because as we have seen when the DLC can't be validated, it puts the whole system on a tilt.

If only the specific DLC assets are checked, such as a route-only, but not common assets, the validation would only take minutes if that. But since many of us have lots of content installed, and much of it now has dependencies which are now included in the DLC, this locks everything until the process completes.

This might sound like some work to figure out, but then again anything that has a potential to impact things in this fashion usually does. As far as I'm concerned, someone at N3V didn't think this through completely and never considered the impact of globally checking assets, or the impact should the servers go down in this fashion.

John

 

[dnevans8]

While I understand N3V's need to use DRM to protect the routes, sessions, and other assets specifically used in their DLC, I do not see nor accept the need for including assets that are available on the DLS with the same kuid version nor an updated version where the only difference is the added privileges container that defines their DLC.

Most of these assets are used by many other assets generally available for all Trainz users until something goes wrong with the validation process. Then anyone with TS12 SP1 and above suddenly find they lose many assets due to missing dependencies (over 1000 in my case) not to mention the actual DLC which does not show up and which makes TS12 unusable, and all because we payed extra for additional DLC.

So I think it is about time N3V had a rethink about how their DRM works and in particular if an asset is on the DLS it should be removed from the validation process.

 

[KenRuof]

I am totally unhappy with the way this was designed, I have not been able to use Trainz since last Friday until last night. Why does it have to check every asset every time I start the program, it is very irritating!

 

[stationmistress]

I personally have not had these problems for these reasons.

1. I have no DLC in any of my versions.
2. I am never connected when using Trainz, always off-line.
3. The CM is only connected when I'm looking for something extra from the DLS.

Due to these reasons, I only have a minute or two to wait to carry on.

 

[RRSignal]

I personally have not had these problems for these reasons.

1. I have no DLC in any of my versions.
2. I am never connected when using Trainz, always off-line.
3. The CM is only connected when I'm looking for something extra from the DLS.

Due to these reasons, I only have a minute or two to wait to carry on.

Same here, and I do have a 3.7 build which I use for driving a few of my favorite routes.

 

[shaneturner12]

I've just loaded mine up (into CM3.7) and haven't had any validation issues either (and I do have two items of DLC).

Shane

 

[Paul_Bert]

I've just loaded mine up (into CM3.7) and haven't had any validation issues either (and I do have two items of DLC).

Shane

There are no problems today. The point is things go wacky during the time the DLS is not working.

I had no problems last Wednesday or this Wednesday either. Please re-read my post again for the timeframe of the problem.

 

[Paul_Bert]

I personally have not had these problems for these reasons.

1. I have no DLC in any of my versions.
2. I am never connected when using Trainz, always off-line.
3. The CM is only connected when I'm looking for something extra from the DLS.

Due to these reasons, I only have a minute or two to wait to carry on.

The issue I am addressing is for those of us who have purchased (perhaps unwisely and are now stuck with it) DLC content. It is not an issue for others, and for those lucky souls who were fortunate enough to not use Trainz over the past weekend. They will be totally oblivious to the problem because the problem slowly resolves itself after several days.

 

[CaptEngland]

After starting up yesterday it ran ok. I've just turned it on for tonight use and guess what, the dreaded Validation time of month. It's worse than my Girlfriends monthly time! :n:

That's another overnight run with the amount of assets I have.........Sometimes I wonder why I bother and not just spend more cash on reskins for that other train game?

Not very happy,
CaptEngland

 

[KenGreen]

Zec said that it's not viable to provide 24/7 cover for the servers. Unfortunately if N3V want this method of DRM then they owe it to their customers to provide this level of service or only verify DLCs when the server is working.

Ken

 

[itareus]

...Its now Wednesday September 5...

Ah, well now I see the problem .

I think John C has hit the nail on the head :

...Instead of doing a global check on DLC because it was included in the package, they should check the base item only and exclude common items which are also available on the DLS. These common items are bogies, scenery items, and other stuff which has been used for a decade or more now. Just because someone making the DLC asset used a common item, this doesn't mean this item has to be included too, because as we have seen when the DLC can't be validated, it puts the whole system on a tilt...

Chris

 

[SuperFudd]

????????????????
I don't get ANY of this, and I have run Trainz every day for the last week.

 

[johnwhelan]

????????????????
I don't get ANY of this, and I have run Trainz every day for the last week.

Lucky lad aren't you. The DRM check is done at different times on different machines you just happened to be lucky your monthly check wasn't attempted this week end nor the other times that the DRM server hasn't been working 100%. Trust me the impact is real, especially on UK based layouts where practically everyone uses Stovepipes engine specs on the wagons etc and they get locked out if you've purchased a DLC such as S&C.

Cheerio John

 

[SuperFudd]

Yeah. That was a bit unsensitive of me. Sorry.

 

[RRSignal]

C'mon, folks, what's the fuss about? DRM is good, right? Nothing bad could ever come from that. You're all just being paranoid... [/sarcasm]

Wait until T:ANE comes out. Folks think this was a big deal...

 

[mikeaust]

I seem to remember that what happened at the weekend was poo pood in a discussion some months ago, when the possible scenario was put forward, as has now happened.
Now it has happened maybe somebody should have a real rethink of what happens in the future.
cheers,
Mike

 

[dricketts]

Why is it that I'm not familiar with any of these validation issues or the DRM. I use TS2010 in surveyor and driver all the time not connected to the internet with CM open. Is there a layer of NV3 security or copyright protection in TS2012 I'm not aware of?

 

[Enzo1]

Why is it that I'm not familiar with any of these validation issues or the DRM. I use TS2010 in surveyor and driver all the time not connected to the internet with CM open. Is there a layer of NV3 security or copyright protection in TS2012 I'm not aware of?

DRM only takes place in TS12 SP1 as far as I am aware of. I do not think that TS2010 is affected by this, considering that is what I am using right now, and I have yet to notice it do weird things other than what I expect Trainz to usually do. So I don't think anything below TS12 SP1 is affected. Also when I use TS12, I am not patched at SP1 because its really just a pain. I tried it, and I did an EDR because I had to, and it broke thousands and thousands of assets that really didn't need broken. Furthermore, when patching to SP1 (including HF4), I notice more crashes than before SP1. I mean yes, crashes and Trainz are real good friends, but they were best friends when I patched to SP1 HF4. Therefore, I am back at Pre-SP1 12, and currently running TS2010. Updating to 12 is good, especially considering unless you got a first class ticket, you're not going to have acess to the DLS from CMP in 2010, that is unless you are a TS12 user like me. I would say that upgrading to TS12 is not a bad idea as long as you don't update to SP1 or any of its hotfixes.